Fun in a Jar

Hello Stampers!
Thanks for stopping by today!

Well, the last big holiday weekend of the summer is here.  I can't believe how quickly the months of July and August have flown by, but here we are at Labor Day Weekend.  I hope you have something fun lined up!

This is going to be a very quick post today, as I have a lot to do today--- as usual.  But I did want to show you this fun card I made a couple of days ago to show off the Perfectly Preserved stamp set and matching Cannery Set Framelit dies.  You can find these cute products on page 29 of the Holiday Mini catalog. 

Take a look...

 



 

The colors here are Early Espresso, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla for the card stock.  And of course I used the same colors for my ink, with the addition of Baja Breeze for the jar.  I used the framelits to cut ou the jar, the jar lid, the pear, and the stem for the pear.  The cutting was so quick and easy to do because I stamped all of my images on one sheet of paper, then lined up the matching framelit on top of each image, covered each one with a post-it note to hold it in place, and then ran it through the Big Shot, which cut all the images in one pass through the machine.  I used one of the Label Framelits as the background for my jar and sponged the edges with Early Espresso.  The Square Lattice Embossing Folder gives a nice texture to my Early Espresso background and some

Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper adds more color and pattern.  A piece of Early Espresso baker's twine wrapped around the jar lid adds the perfect finishing touch. 

 

What a fun card, and yet it didn't take long to make at all with the help of my trusty Big Shot!  If you'd like to get a Big Shot for half off (49.98), just book a party with me and when your sales reach $400, you'll earn one item at 50% off.  Plus at the $400 level you'll also get $65 in hostess dollars to spend on anything in the catalog!  I've got lots of dates open in October and November, so send me a quick email at sjrstamps@gmail.com and we'll pick a date that works for you.  What could be more fun than a morning, afternoon, or evening spent stamping and being creative with friends?  And at the end of the party YOU get the free goodies!

 

I'm off to the races now!  Hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend!

Susan

Late Summer Flowers

Hello Stampers! 
Welcome back to The Classic Card.

Hope your Wednesday is off to a great start! 

Every year I plant some of those "shake and grow" garden seeds... a mix of all sorts of seeds that you just scatter on the soil, lightly rake, and then water.  It is a mixture of Cosmos, Zinnias, Bachelor Buttons, Columbine, Lupine, Daisies, and some unknown varieties.  I think there must be a few weed seeds in there too, judging from what has sprung up in my raised garden bed.  Because of our cool summers here in Oregon, it takes all of July and most of August before I see many blooms, but finally I have a few flowers to cut.  Is there anything more charming than a canning jar full of old-fashioned flowers like your grandmother used to grow?   There are no florist's beauties here, just some bright and pretty everyday flowers perfect for filling a canning jar.

I've got the perfect card to go along with my canning jar of flowers!  Check it out!

 



The color scheme here is just right for late summer--- Riding Hood Red and More Mustard with Old Olive.  The jar is stamped in Baja Breeze.  The stamp set is called Perfectly Preserved and can be found on page 29 of the Holiday Mini Catalog.  I just love the font of the sentiment... a fun new set called Sassy Salutations that you can find on page 143 of the big annual catalog. 

If you attended the afternoon or evening session of my technique class yesterday, many thanks for joining me!  I hope you had a relaxing time and learned a couple of things that will add more fun to your card-making.  I've got a busy day ahead and I'm sure you do too, so thanks for stopping by for a visit!  Don't forget to come back and see me again on Friday for another bit of inspiration.

Create something pretty today!
Susan

Halloween fun

Hello my friends!  Golly, it's Monday again!  How did that happen so quickly?

Many of my teacher friends are heading back to work today to prepare their classrooms for the new school year that is just around the corner.  After quite a few years working in school libraries, I have to say that it still feels a little strange when school starts and I'm here at home instead of at school.  Being retired is a tough job! 

A glance out my stamp room window confirms that yes, summer is drawing to a close.  It is cool and cloudy and the wind has definitely picked up.  The clump of birches outside my window is hanging on to summer for dear life, though... sort of like me.  I don't see even one leaf that has begun to turn.  Hopefully that will take a few more weeks.  Soon enough,  I'll be down there in the yard, raking those leaves.  For now, I'll just enjoy the green and leafy view from my window.

I'm pretty sure you'd like it if I'd stop rambling and get to the card, so I'll do that shortly.  Before I do  that I'd like to give you my thoughts on Halloween.  Halloween, to me, is a fun time for little kids to dress up in costumes and go trick-or-treating.  It isn't an evil holiday unless we make it one.  Why do we have to complicate what should be a fun event for kids with all sorts of pronouncements about "devil worship," etc.?  Yes, I guess it would be devil worship if that was our intent--- if we said "Now I'm going to worship the devil."  Little children, in their innocence, do not do that.  To them it is just a fun time to dress up and get candy.  Can we just let them enjoy this candy-centric holiday?  I went trick-or-treating for years when I was growing up and I didn't become a devil-worshipper and neither did any of my friends.  OK... I'm climbing down off my soap box now.

So.... here's the card.  It is pretty cute, if I do say so myself. There's nothing scary about it--- no witches, skeletons, rats, spiders, toads, or other repulsive creatures--- just a cute little kitty!

I used a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches (it is sketch #47, if you'd like to go to www.freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com and check out their sketch).  I think my grandchildren would love to get a fun card like this at Halloween, especially if I mailed some candy along with it.  Here's a very quick list of what I used.

Stamps:Tricky Treats
Ink: Basic Black
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Howlstooth and Scaringbone DSP
Accessories:  Label Framelits, Houndstooth embossing folder, Tangerine Tango scallop dotted ribbon (turned over so the dots don't show), Buttons #5 Sizzlit, Linen Thread, Extra-Large Oval Punch, 1 3/8 inch square punch (for flagging the ends of the DSP strips).

We could make this fun Halloween card at your party!  Just give me a call and we'll find a date that works for both of us and then I'll help you and your friends create this purr-fect Halloween card!
Hope your week is off to a great start!  Thanks for visiting with me today and I'll look forward to seeing you back here on Wednesday.

Stamp something pretty today!
Susan

Just a Hint of Fall

Hello stampers!  Hurray, it's Friday!

I don't know whether you've noticed it or not, but there is a hint of fall in the air.  The days are cooler, the nights are growing longer, and we are on that long slide into September.  While I wish summer could last at least another month, I have to admit that I love fall too!  I love it when we have cool sunny days (but more often than not it seems like we have cool rainy days).  Of course I love the glorious fall trees in their gorgeous fall outfits... who doesn't?  Raking the leaves??  Not so much.
But ready or not, fall is on its way! 

Today I've got a cute little treat that you could share with your co-workers, children, grandchildren or anyone who loves chocolate.  This little double pocket treat holder is quick and easy to make.  I received this at a swap I participated in a few weeks ago. Marcy Morris was the creator.  Check it out...

A little cutting, scoring, and folding and you have a great little holder that stands up all by itself.  While this one is done in a Halloween theme, you could make these for any holiday.  What a great placecard this would make for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and what guest wouldn't love a little chocolate to take home?  There's a pocket on the back too, so there's room for two chocolates.  This double pocket holder can also be made in a larger size and makes a wonderful holder for cards and envelopes.  Made with some pretty DSP and filled with matching cards and envelopes, it makes a lovely hostess gift, in case you are lucky enough to have someone else cooking your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner this year.  If you'd like to learn how to make this fun little package, book a stamping party with me and I'll show you and your friends how it is done. 

Next Tuesday, August 28th, is my Technique Tuesday class where you'll learn some fun new stamping ideas.  You're going to learn to make a rosette using the Designer Rosette Bigz XL Die and I've also got some other Big Shot ideas to share as well.  You'll get a chance to use the Watercolor Wonder Crayons too!  If you haven't tried them yet, you are going to love using them.  They make coloring so much easier.  They glide on and make everyone a pro at coloring.  There are two sessions... one from 2-4:30 and an evening session from 7-9.  I still have a few seats at each session, so send me a quick email (sjrstamps@gmail.com)  and I'll reserve a seat for you!  The cost is only $5... which is a steal of a deal for a class like this. 

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to come back and visit on Monday, when I'll have another classic card for you!
Susan

Bright Blooms

Hello my friends! 
How did it get to be Wednesday already?  I'm not happy that this summer is just zipping by, but I can't think of anything I can do to stop that from happening, can you?  I'm so happy to be wearing my summer uniform of short-sleeved tops, capris, and sandals that I don't want it to ever end!  I will hold out until the rain starts, then I will be forced to put my sandals away but I won't give in until then!
At the beginning of summer I vowed to sit on the porch each morning with a cup of coffee and the newspaper.  As it has turned out, though, I'm way too busy to be a porch-sitter.  As I see summer slipping away, I've decided I need to take just 15 minutes each morning for this summertime ritual. 
I hope you'll find some time to get outside as well.  There's nothing more restorative than spending time outdoors in the fresh air, reveling in the sights and sounds of nature. 

As promised on Monday, I have another summery card for you today.  This is a CASE (which stands for "copy and share everything") of a card I received at convention from Kristie O'Keeffe of Topeka, Kansas.  I changed a few things... added more leaves and flowers, embossed the Lucky Limeaid panel, omitted some DSP and butterflies, and changed out the ribbon, but her card definitely inspired me.   Take a look at this pretty card...

If you are planning on coming to the Stamping Fiesta on Thursday night, you'll be making this bright and colorful card!   I realize that flowers don't really come in those colors, but it sure was fun to get out the brightest colors in the Stampin'Up! catalog and stamp away!  For the flowers I used Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, and Tempting Turquoise.  The green is my new favorite, Lucky Limeaid.  The ribbon is Tangerine Tango.  The stamp set is called Summer Silhouettes (p. 82) and the greeting is from Pursuit of Happiness ( p. 140).  The frame for the sentiment is from Four Frames (p. 124)  and is stamped in Tangerine Tango.  The sentiment is stamped in Rich Razzleberry.  This is a fairly quick and easy card, yet I love how the color combination, along with the repetition of dots (on the background panel, frame, ribbon, and dotty flowers) give it a cohesive look. 

I hope you'll take some time out of your busy schedule to live in the sunshine before Summer 2012 is just a memory!  Have a wonder-full Wednesday and be sure to come back for a visit on Friday! 

Susan

The Colors of Summer

Hello stampers!  Thanks for stopping by The Classic Card today!

I hate to remind you, but have you noticed the signs of the coming Fall?  For one thing, it sure is getting dark earlier.  I've also noticed that some of the trees in the greenspace are starting to drop a few leaves.  The bullfrogs in our pond are silent now (that always happens in late summer) and the hydrangeas are almost done blooming.  I wish summer could last longer, but here in Oregon we have to face the fact that summer is a very short-lived season... sigh!

I'm not quite ready to give up on summery cards just yet, though.  I'm still enjoying the blues of the sky, the warm yellows of the sun, and in today's card, the rich berry tones of ripening blackberries, marionberries, and raspberries.  Check out the card I have for you today and see if you agree that Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, and Rich Razzleberry make a delightful color combination for a summer card.

I apologize for the crooked photo... I sure thought it was straight when I took it!  I pulled the colors directly from the designer paper called Floral District.  You can see all the great patterns/colors in this collection on page 163 of the big catalog.  The stamp set is called Lacy and Lovely and you can check it out on page 99 of the big catalog.  The great thing about this set is that it has not only great images which layer together nicely, but it also features some nice sentiments... Hello," "Thank You," and "Miss You."  I love it when a set has both images and words... so convenient!  I stamped the largest lace circle in Daffodil delight, then punched it out with the 2 3/8 in Scallop Circle Punch.  I stamped the next layer in Rich Razzleberry and punched it out with the 1 3/4 inch Circle Punch.  The top layer is stamped in Baja Breeze and is punched out with the 1 inch Circle Punch. 
All the stamped layers are placed on top of a flower shape, cut from Rich Razzleberry card stock with the Floral Frames Framelits (p. 191 of the big catalog) and then all four layers are held together with a Pool Party Printed Brad ( p. 174 of the big catalog). The sentiment is stamped in Rich Razzleberry and a bit of Stitched Grosgrain ribbon in Rich Razzleberry adds a nice finishing touch.  I love this color combination, but don't think I would have thought to combine these colors on my own.  That's where the Designer Series Paper (DSP) comes in handy, as each collection gives wonderful inspiration for unusual color combinations.

May your Monday go smoothly and may your week be off to a great start.  Please come back and visit with me again on Wednesday, when I'll be sharing another summery card with you. 
Happy Stamping!
Susan

Something tall, cool, and frosty...

Hello Stampers and happy Saturday to one and all!

I hope your Saturday is shaping up to be a relaxing day, because it's just too hot to take on any big projects, such as weeding, mowing, or even heavy house-cleaning.  You have my permission to pour yourself a tall cool drink and loll about the house (or the garden, if you stay in the shade) and read a good book or whatever else you'd like to do.  While you are lolling, don't feel the least bit guilty.  It is proven that people who take regular breaks from their work routine are actually more productive.  So think of it as a "productivity improvement day."   Here's a favorite quote of mine:  "How pleasant it is to do nothing, then rest afterwards."  However, those of you who know me well know that I very seldom rest.  Workaholism is one of my biggest faults.  I try to work on it, but I'm just not good at lounging around.  I think it is all my mother's fault.  She was a big promoter of work, work, work when I was growing up.  It is always good to have someone to blame for one's faults, yes?

In case you were wondering about the title of this entry, "something tall, cool, and frosty" that doesn't just apply to the drink I was suggesting in the above paragraph... it also applies to the card I have to show you today.  And yes, the subject is tall, cool-looking, and frosty!!  Check it out.....

Sorry if you were expecting a card featuring a mai-tai or another tropical drink, but you have to admit... trees covered in snow are tall, cool, and frosty too!   This is another one of the cards I received at the shoebox swap for demonstrators that I attended recently.  This cool card was stamped by Kim Wright, one of the stampers in my downline.  I'm a big fan of monochromatic cards--- I just love the simplicity of them.  Let me list some of the supplies Kim used on her card:

  * Snow Festival DSP ( for the background), p. 10 of the Holiday Mini
  *Evergreen stamp set, page 18 of the Holiday Mini
  * White embossing powder, page 159 of the big catalog
  *Whisper White organza ribbon, p. 173 of the big catalog.
  * and of course Baja Breeze and Whisper White card stock

Kim stamped the tree in Baja Breeze, them overstamped the tree with Versamark ink, then embossed with white embossing powder.  This would be another quick and easy card to create for the upcoming holidays.

OK, stamping people... that's it for today!  I'm busily working on cards for upcoming classes and events!  I hope to wow you on Technique Tuesday, August 28th!  Please let me know if you'd like to attend the afternoon session ( 2- 4:30) or the evening session (7-9 pm) by sending me a quick email to sjrstamps@gmail.com.   Don't forget to come back on Monday for another visit!

Happy lounging!
Susan

Hot, hot, hot!

Hello Stamping Friends and welcome to Friday!

Since we knew that yesterday was going to be soooo very hot, we saved our beach trip that was planned on Wednesday and went on Thursday instead.  I know you really don't care about that, but it means that there's no post for today.  By the time we got home last night, sitting down to write a blog post just wasn't going to happen.

Unfortunately, today is full of medical appointments so my Friday post will be appearing on Saturday.  I apologize, but sometimes life just gets in the way of posting on a regular schedule.  Please check back in with me on Saturday, when I'll have a classic card for you.  Meanwhile, keep as cool as possible (as I'm sure you will!).

Enjoy this summer weather and drink in that blue sky and sunshine!  It won't be around forever!
Happy Weekend, everyone!
Susan

Cards for Kids

Hello everyone!
Thanks for stopping by this summery Wednesday!

Have you ever noticed that I almost never post a masculine card or a card for children?  I guess I like to focus on cards I'd like to receive, completely forgetting that there are other types of people in this world who have birthdays--- like my soon-to-be three-year-old grandsons.  I just didn't have time to stamp while they were here, but yesterday I finally had a minute to sit down and stamp some birthday cards for them.  I hope that my daughter Amy will save the cards I make so that the children can enjoy them when they are older.  I'm pretty sure neither Luke nor Ben will be excited to receive their birthday cards this year.  Three-year-olds like things they can play with or eat.  Someday, though, when I'm long gone, I hope they'll look at the cards I made for Halloween, Valentine's Day, and their birthdays and remember how their Oma loved to make cards.   We don't think of paper as being terribly durable, and yet it lasts surprisingly well.  I still have a Christmas card that I received from my grandma when I was about 10 years old.  It is designed to hang from the Christmas tree by a loop of thread.  I've had it for approximately 55 years and thought it is a bit bent in places, it still looks pretty good. In fact, I think it has fewer wrinkles than I do!  I enjoy reading my grandma's handwriting and reflecting on those long-ago Christmases. 

So for those of you who have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or children next door, I encourage you to make some "kid cards."  They are fun to make and you might enjoy the chance to experiment with some new stamp sets.  Here are the cards I sent to Luke and Ben.  They are really into trucks and construction equipment, so the set I Dig You (in the big catalog on page 69) was perfect for their cards this year

The sentiment is "Happy Dirtday" and the inside greeting is "I Dig You!"  The new Chevron embossing folder was perfect for adding tire tracks to the background panel.  The card stock colors are Whisper White, Real Red, and Midnight Muse.  I used Daffodil Delight ink for the vehicles and stamped the greetings in Midnight Muse.  The number three is from the new Memorable Moments set
(page 139 of the big catalog).  I hope you feel inspired to make some cards for children.  There are many fun stamps to choose from in the "Growing Up" section of the big catalog, which starts on page 59.  You'll find everything from baby stamps to footballs and from princess stamps to camping sets.  There's lots of variety to suit the interests of all ages. 

Today John and I are celebrating our 42nd wedding anniversary, so we're headed off to Cannon Beach.  We haven't gone to the beach in 3 or 4 years, so I think it's time.  Enjoy your day and don't forget to come back on Friday for another visit!

Susan

Clean and Simple Christmas...

Hello Stamping Friends!

Welcome to Monday and another post at The Classic Card!

Well, our Seattle family has packed up and gone home (yesterday) and we are getting back to normal around here, which means that the house is now pretty clean and awfully quiet.  No more pitter-patter of little feet, no more little voices calling for Oma and Opa.  It was a great visit though and we did lots of fun things. While they were here we celebrated the twins' third birthday a little early with cake and lots of presents. I did very little stamping for a whole week, which was a nice break from the hamster wheel I've been running on since I got back from the Stampin'Up! convention.  Now the pace picks back up with lots of fun stamping events on my calendar. I hope I'll see you at a stamping party soon!

I hate to be the one to remind you, but the holidays are sneaking up on us, even as I write.  Will this be the year that you finally get your cards completed before Halloween?  I've got a clean and simple Christmas card for you today that just might make that dream a reality.  I received this card at the recent Holiday Mini-catalog Shoebox Swap that I attended.  This great card is the creation of Linda Arnold, a fellow Stampin'Up! demonstrator and I just love the simplicity of it.

Here's a quick list of some of the products she used:  The ornaments are from the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set, page 3 of the Holiday Mini.  They're stamped in Real Red, Gumball Green, and Daffodil Delight.  The saying is from the More Merry Messages set in the big annual catalog (page 15).  The smallest ornament is cut using the framelits that match the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set (page 3 of the Holiday Mini).  Here's a great idea... you can purchase the stamp set and matching framelit dies as a bundle and save $7.95 in the process.  With that savings of $7.95, you could purchase one of the new embossing folders on pages 6,7, or 33 of the Holiday Mini.  The only embellishment is a rhinestone on each of the ornaments.  How easy is that?  You could make this card in quantity and not even break a sweat!  The stamping is simple and straightforward... nothing complicated here... and yet it is a very attractive card.

That's it for today, stampers!  I'm busily working on cards for upcoming parties.  If you'd like to join me on Saturday at Elena's party, please send me a quick email at sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll add your name to the list.  The start time is 3pm at my home in Sherwood and the cards are going to be great fun to make! 

Happy Monday and keep cool!
Susan

Cute, Cute, Cute!

Hello Stampers!
Thanks for stopping by this sunny Friday!

I'm sorry this is going to be so short today, but the grandchildren are here and I'm going to make pancakes for breakfast, so I've got to be quick!  But I promised a card today and I'm going to honor that commitment.

I received this cute card, which was created by Kathy Milano, at a recent "shoebox swap" that I attended with other demonstrators in the area.  It uses some of the great stamps and accessories that are available in the Holiday Mini-catalog.  If you are trying to decide on a card for the upcoming holiday season,  this one might be just the thing for you as it doesn't include any time-consuming coloring or hand-cutting.  Check it out....

The three Christmas images from the Scentsational Season set make this card CUTE x 3! The colors are Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, and Very Vanilla, taken directly from the new Be of Good Cheer DSP, which you'll find in the big catalog on page 164..  Kathy used the coordinating Holiday Collection Framelits to cut out each stamped image, then adhered them to a sqaure of cardstock punched with the 1/1/4 inch square punch which was layered onto a scalloped square.  The scalloped edge border punch adds pretty detail, as does the Victoria crochet trim. The sentiment is from the new Greetings of the Season set ( 4 great greetings for only $11.95!!)  which is in the Holiday Mini on page 8.

Don't forget... my annual Jingle Bell Jump is happening on Saturday, September 8th at 10:30 am. I'll have lots of Christmas cards on display which will hopefully inspire you to pick a design, order your supplies, and get a jump on your cards this year.  An evite will be coming to your inbox soon, so please be on the lookout.

Have a great weekend everyone!
Susan

Busy times on Pinehurst Drive

Hello Stampers!  Welcome to Wednesday and The Classic Card!

Things have been a whirlwind of activity since Amy and the grandchildren arrived on Sunday.  There have been a lot of things going on, but stamping hasn't been one of them! 

We've been out to dinner, to the local library, and splashing in a fun fountain at Cannery Square in Old Town Sherwood. We've been hanging out in the back yard, playing in the sandbox and splashing in the wading pool. Today we're having breakfast outdoors at Hayden's (by the lake in Tualatin) where the children will be entertained by the Canada geese that are constantly taking off and landing on the lake. 

Yesterday afternoon, while the twins were napping, Emma and I enjoyed an afternoon of card-making.  We made a stack of birthday cards that she can take home to Seattle and use for her friends' birthday parties.  When you're 6, you get invited to a LOT of birthday parties!  But that's all the stamping I've done in the past few days.

I'm sorry I don't have a fabulous new card to share with you today, but I'll be back in stamping mode soon.  I have a fun picture to share with you, though, and here it is....



two freshly-bathed two year olds, headed for bed!  After a day of chasing these two around, all I can say is hurray for bedtime!

Check back on Friday, when I hope to have another Classic Card for your enjoyment!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Susan





Canning Season

Hello Stampers! 
Welcome back to The Classic Card!    Wow... that was one hot weekend!  I hope you were able to stay nice and cool with the help of a little air-conditioning, cool drinks, and maybe even a fountain or pool to splash in! 

All of this nice summer heat is doing its job to ripen all sorts of fruits and veggies and soon canning season will be here! That reminds me of a fun quote: "We eat all the fruit we can, and what we can't, we can."  Does anyone out there can anymore?  I must confess that my preserving is pretty much limited to making freezer jam these days.  But I certainly remember my mom peeling fruit, mixing, bringing things to a boil,  pouring into hot jars, wiping rims, and lifting the lids out of scalding water with tongs and carefully placing them on the hot jars.  Of course then there was the big canning kettle, the jar lifters, and all sorts of equipment.  And all of this slicing, dicing, mixing and boiling was done in a sweltering kitchen in late summer.  I don't know about you, but canned applesauce and canned tomatoes from the store taste just fine to me. 

So by now you are probably wondering if the heat has addled my poor brain.  I hear you thinking to yourself "What is her point?"  Well, I'm just leading up to showing you a fun card using the new Holiday Mini-catalog set called Perfectly Preserved, which you can find on page 29.  What a great set for fall cards!  And what's even better is that it has a matching set of Framelit dies, so that you can cut out each stamped image perfectly.  There's even some coordinating Designer Paper called Orchard Harvest. 

This cute card was made by Lynn Baskin and I received it as a swap at a recent stamping event for demonstrators.  The colors are Real Red, Basic Black, and Whisper White... always a classic combination.  She stamped the canning jar on a clear window sheet ( page 160 of the big annual catalog) with Jet Black Staz-On and then cut it out by hand.  The "just for you" banner comes with the set and she used the Bitty Banners Framelits to cut it out.  The cherries inside the jar are cut with the 1/2 inch circle punch and given a bit of dimension with a white gel pen (p. 157 of the big catalog).  Some white baker's twine adds just the right touch secured around the jar lid.  The new Delicate Designs embossing folder adds a pretty touch of texture, as does the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  I think sitting down with this cute set and making some pretty fall cards would be a lot more fun than canning fruit in a hot kitchen, don't you?   

Well, stampers, that wraps it up for today!  Try to stay cool
Susan

Sunshine and Blue Skies Ahead

Hello stamping friends!  Happy Friday to one and all!

 Hurray!  It's almost the weekend and a fine one it is shaping up to be, with plenty of sunshine and blue skies... two of my very favorite things.  And while I love the warmth of golden sunshine and the cool azure of the sky together, yellow and blue aren't my favorite colors for home decor.  I know they look stunning together, but I guess my problem is that I'm just not a" blue person." Maybe that comes from my mom, who is totally into blue.  When I was growing up, there was plenty of blue (she collected blue and white china) and maybe I just got sick of it.  So when I grew up and started picking our things for my own home, I steered completely away from blue. But I must admit that blue and yellow look pretty together, as this photo proves.







My arrangement of hydrangeas and sunflowers reminded me that perhaps I should consider combining blue and yellow in a card.  So when I started looking around for ideas for one of my convention swaps, I decided to try out the yellow/blue combination with Summer Starfruit and Midnight Muse--- our newest yellow and blue In-colors.   Here's my card...

I used the new Blooming with Kindness set from the big annual catalog ( page 87) which includes a wonderful selection of elegant, scrolly sentiments.  I love it when a great image, such as this chrysanthemum, is combined with beautiful sentiments in the same set.  I used Very Vanilla and Summer Starfruit card stock.  The DSP is from the Designer Paper Stack in the 2012-2014 In-Colors ( p. 162).  I embossed the background panel with the new Fancy Fan embossing folder and added  some Summer Starfruit and Midnight Muse Stitched Satin ribbon,  tied in a simple knot, at the top. Now I've decided that while I'm still not into blue for home decor, I do love sunshine and blue skies on my cards!

So how about you?  What are your favorite color combinations for summery cards?  Do you hear your yellow and blue stamp pads calling out to you?  Maybe it's time to go stamp something pretty!
 Don't forget to come back on Monday, when I will hopefully have a new card for you.  Just a heads-up, though.... the grandchildren are arriving on Sunday and who knows what Monday will bring.  If I'm "MIA" on Monday, you'll know I'm busy in the kitchen, cooking up lots of macaroni and cheese... the twins' favorite food at the moment. 
Happy weekend everyone!
Susan

My Monaco Wow Swap

Hello Stamping People and welcome back to The Classic Card!

Well, there went July!  It just rushed past us while we lolling in the shade, reading a good book.  Or maybe we were grooving at an outdoor concert and we didn't notice she was tiptoeing past us.  Oh well, never mind... we still have August to keep us company.  I hope you are loving the nice summery weather as much as I am!  I'm very grateful for every ray of sunshine we get! 

The great Stampin'Up! convention is over and done, but not forgotten.  A few years back--- it must have been about 3 years ago--- I met up with some fun demonstrators from Kansas City, Missouri.  Like me, they stay at the Hotel Monaco each year and we met at the daily wine hour in the lobby. Here they are, enjoying the newly redecorated space which was "revealed" on the last day of convention this year.  We weren't too happy to have our favorite meeting spot closed for four days, but thankfully they finished the renovation and we were able to enjoy the wine hour in the lobby (instead of in a suite on the 15th floor) on our last night in Salt Lake City.



From left to right, they are Dana, Jeri, Tammy, and Paula.  This year Dana had the idea of doing a "wow" swap with just the demonstrators who stay at the Monaco.  There are about 10 of us who make a point of reconnecting every year.   I'm sure there are actually more demos who stay there, but we just haven't "hung out" together.  Since everyone's definition of a "wow" swap is a bit different, I was hoping they'd like my card.  Here it is and I hope you'll like it too.

The stamps are from Everything Eleanor... one of the most popular sets in the new catalog.  The colors are Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, and Whisper White.  For the front panel, I used Brushed Silver card stock and embossed the flourish from Everything Eleanor with clear embossing powder.  I used the new Fancy Fan embossing folder on the vertical white banner.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes and I've embellished card with pearls and Daffodil Delight seam binding.  I took my color scheme from page 39 of the new annual catalog--- love the yellow and gray together!  If you have any summer weddings to attend, this would be an elegant card for the bride and groom! 

Now that August is here, I'll be sending out my August Stampin'Up!date, so be looking for it in your inbox.  There are lots of opportunities to stamp with me in August and I hope to see you at one or more of my events.  I'll be back here on Friday with another classic card for you.  Meanwhile, why not go stamp something pretty?

Susan